Pioneer News

Non-league “Clash of the Titans” Announced

Two of the best semi-pro football teams in the country
will clash on May 4, 2013 in St. Paul, Minn., as the St. Paul Pioneers,
winners of three consecutive Northern Elite Football League
championships and the 2009 NAFL National Championship, take on the Des
Moines Blaze, winners of the past two Midwest Football Alliance
championships and 2011 Semi-Pro BCS National Champions, in a non-league
game.

The matchup will be played at 7 p.m. at Seafoam Stadium at Concordia University-St. Paul, home of the Pioneers.

“Our
fans, our families, our players, have been asking for a challenging
non-league schedule and quality opponents,” Pioneers Head Coach Mark
Heiser said Monday. “They don’t get much better, or more challenging,
than Des Moines.”(Read Full Story)

“Juice” named to the American Football Hall of Fame

We have referred to George Hall by a lot of terms of endearment over the years.

Lineman. Equipment Guy. Owner. Board Member. King Juicy. Juice.

Now, the St. Paul Pioneers are proud to hang another name on a guy who
has been one of the keys to all of our 102 wins, seven league
championships and one National Title since 2002: Hall of Famer.

Former team owner and current Pioneers Board Member Geor ge “Juice”
Hall has been named to the American Football Hall of Fame Class of 2013.
Hall will be honored soon in a recognition ceremony in Miami, Florida.

Board member and Assistant Head Coach James Walsh has known “Juice”
since they were members of the Minneapolis Lumberjacks together in the
late 1990s. He praised the decision to add Hall to the Hall of Fame.

“No one in this part of the country has played a larger role in
building the quality of amateur football than Juice,” Walsh said. “The
way he has helped build the Pioneers into one of the top teams in the
nation, while still reaching out to other teams and forging
relationships with players, coaches, owners and board members throughout
the area has helped our sport grow in stature and in recognition.”

The St. Paul Pioneers are proud to have one of our own going into the
Hall of Fame. It is well-deserved. Congratulations to our friend and our
teammate!

Here is what the Hall of Fame said in its letter to Juice:

Dear Hall of Famer:
CONGRATULATIONS and WELCOME! You have been accepted for induction into the American Football Hall of Fame Class of 2013.
Our fourth American Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony,
honoring a “League of Extraordinary People” from all levels of American
Football, will take place this year in Miami, Florida.
You will be receiving additional information under separate cover.
Please feel free to contact either of us for any assistance we can give.

Pioneers To Play In USA Bowl National Championship

The St. Paul Pioneers are scheduled to take on the North Texas Longhorns
on Saturday, Jan. 19, in the USA Bowl Spring-Summer National
Championship game in Daytona Beach, Florida.
The Pioneers are 12-0 and three-time champions of the NEFL. North Texas
is 15-0 and champions of the TUFL. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at
Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium, home of the Bethune-Cookman Panthers.
For more details click HERE.

Long-snapper Stelter signs Pro Contract

He had been busting his rear for years, working camps,
teaching youngsters all over the country the tools of the long-snapping
trade. He had also won a few championships with the St. Paul Pioneers.
But, despite being what his coaches consider one of the best
long-snappers in the country, Kyle Stelter’s odyssey for a spot in
professional football had not yet reached its goal.

But, just as
Stelter was preparing to start a student teaching job, everything
changed. The Sacramento Mountain Lions of the professional United
Football League called and offered him a job. Stelter heads for training
camp this week.

“It was unbelievable,” said the 24-year-old who
still has a semester to finish at the University of Wisconsin-River
Falls. “When I got that call, I knew that my dream is still alive.”

Just
as the father’s of left-handed boys are well-advised to see if their
sons possess a decent fastball, so too do long-snappers have a rare
skill coveted by football coaches. There just are not that many people
out there who possess the speed and accuracy to sling a football back
between their legs to National Football League standards. But the pros
are always searching. Pioneers Head Coach Mark Heiser thinks they have
found one of those rare talents in Stelter.

Pioneers Win Third Straight Elite Bowl

Saturday, the Pioneers played in their third consecutive
Northern Elite Football League Elite Bowl. Would they win their third
championship, and fourth overall, in a row?

It was looking good early, when linebacker John Robinson stopped Predators quarterback LA Anderson short of a first down.

The
Pioneers offense started quickly as well when, just a few minutes
later, quarterback Michael Spriggs threw to Delane Woods, who then ran
23 yards for the game’s first touchdown.

Woods had never played in a championship game before Saturday’s Elite Bowl.

A
short time later, however, the Predators became only the third team to
score on the Pioneers this season as Vince Furby ran 72 yards for a
touchdown. After a failed extra point attempt, the score was 7-6
Pioneers. Suddenly, the future of the Pioneers’ title hopes weren’t
quite so clear.(Read Full Article)

Pioneers Advance to 2012 NEFL Championship Game

By Cassie Kickert
(7-30-2012)

In two games earlier this season, the St. Paul Pioneers outscored
the Minnesota Spartans 55-22. Saturday’s playoff game, though, had more
at stake. The winner would go on to Elite Bowl V, the Northern Elite
Football League title game.

The loser would go home.

Less than two minutes into the game, the Pioneers sent a message: They would not be going home.

On the Pioneers’ first offensive play, Isaac Odim took the ball right
and ran 54 yards to the end zone for the game’s first score.

Then, after defensive back Jake Lindsey intercepted Spartans quarterback
David Connors’ double-reverse, Hail Mary pass, Pioneers quarterback
Michael Spriggs and wideout Marcus Foster connected on a 40-yard
touchdown pass. Just like that, the Pioneers set the tone for the rest
of the game.(Read Full Article)

8-0 Pioneers Clinch the NEFL Playoffs' Top Seed

By Cassie Kickert
(7-16-2012)

Pioneers fans saw a familiar sight Saturday during St.
Paul’s final regular season game against the River City Rough Riders at
Seafoam Stadium: Isaac Odim running almost the length of the field for
an early Pioneers touchdown.

Less than two minutes into the game,
the star running back from the University of Minnesota-Duluth ran 83
yards on the Pioneers’ second offensive play. It gave him and the team a
great start on another superior day rushing. Odim carried the ball just
eight times for 145 yards.

The Pioneers were not done, though. They were on a mission—a mission to clinch the top seed in the 2012 NEFL playoffs.(Read Full Article)

Pioneer to take his football talents to South America

By Jim Walsh

Phil Breidall’s football career has, until now, been confined to southern Minnesota and northern Iowa.

He played high school ball at Pine Island and spent a semester at Upper Iowa University,
before transferring to Rochester Community and Technical College in
2007. Later, he became a defensive stalwart at linebacker for Southwest
Minnesota State University in Marshall, before joining the St. Paul
Pioneers this spring.

Now, though, Breidall’s life is going to become a lot more worldly. The
Pioneers’ leading tackler is leaving the cozy confines of the United
States to start his latest football journey in Brazil. Yes, Brazil. And
it is not to play futbol – or soccer – but American football for the
Jaraqua Breakers. He leaves this week for the land of Carnival, Salsa
dancing and the Amazon.

Pioneers Clinch The Western Conference

By Cassie Kickert
(7-2-2012)

Saturday’s game in the extreme heat and
humidity of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, didn’t start as the Pioneers had hoped,
at least defensively, as they watched the River City Rough Riders drive
down the field for over eight minutes to start the game.

Defensive
back Lionel Lamarre temporarily righted the ship when he recovered a
fumble that stopped the long drive and gave the Pioneers possession.

Then, the offense went to work.

Isaac
Odim, who has become the Pioneers’ trustworthy and consistent ball
carrier, got the Pioneers to the Rough Riders 38 yard line. After a pass
from Spriggs to tight end Joe Ubani moved the chains again, Spriggs
threw 33 yards to receiver Damien Rochon-Washington, who slid across the
goal line for a touchdown, the game’s first score, in the second
quarter. Jay Harding banged the extra point off the upright, however,
making the lead 6-0.(Read Full Article)

To start off the camp, all 10 Pioneers players taught future tackle
football players, ages 8-14, proper technique for offensive positions
such as quarterback, running back, wide receiver and offensive line.
Then, after a brief water break, the focus switched to defense, where
the kids were put through defensive line drills, linebacker drills and
defensive back drills

The camp concluded with a touch football game, enjoyed by all who
participated. QB Spriggs could be heard cheering his team on from across
the field. The kids were revved up too, cheering before each play; Coby
Birch was named most valuable camper and was rewarded with a Vikings
football.

Finally, each camper received two free tickets to that afternoon’s game
versus the Minnnesota Spartans and could see how their favorite Pioneer
played.

Pioneers Edge Spartans to Clinch Spot in Playoffs

By Cassie Kickert
(6-26-2012)

Saturday’s game was the latest installment
in the Pioneers/Spartans (formerly Dragons) rivalry. From coaches
yelling instructions to players on the field to players encouraging each
other to keep fighting to the blowing horns blaring from both sides of
the field, even the casual observer knew this game meant something to
both teams.

To the Pioneers, a win meant a spot in the playoffs. To the Spartans, it meant beating their rival and, also, beating the best.

Games like that rarely go according to plan.
That was the case Saturday as well.
No one could have predicted the Spartans would be the first to score.(Read Full Article) (Photos)

Pioneers On WCCO

Pioneers Shut Out Giants in Rochester

On Saturday, the St. Paul Pioneers hit the “replay”
button. Another game with rain. Another shutout by the defense. Another
scoring frenzy.

But this game didn’t start with a quick score as
so many have this season. The end result was the same, though: another
huge Pioneers victory.

Neither team would score on their first
possession. On the second Pioneers possession, however, running back
Isaac Odim – a star and national champion at the University of
Minnesota-Duluth -- was the workhorse. He gained all of the Pioneers 78
yards on the drive, including a 63 yard touchdown run for the game’s
first score.

The next Giants drive started at their own 23. The
Pioneers defense, including linebacker Phil Breidall who sacked Giants’
quarterback Mike Van Leer when he exploded through the line on a blitz,
ensured they did not get beyond it.(Read Full Article) (Photos)

Original Pioneer Series: Damien Rochon-Washington

One player still with the Pioneers from the original 2002 squad is receiver Damien Rochon-Washington.

11
years ago, fellow original Pioneer Guillame Paek, Rochon-Washington’s
teammate with the former Minneapolis Lumberjacks, approached him about
joining a new semi-pro team, the St. Paul Pioneers.

The Pioneers’
founders, Adam Gold and Ryan Venturine, also played for the Lumberjacks
as well as current assistant head coach/defensive line coach Jim Walsh,
who came up with the nickname “Pioneers”.(Read Full Article)

St Paul Pioneers 'The Movie'

Recently, filmmaker Ryne Martin has been spending time with the Pioneers
shooting a unique, behind the scenes video series. Just released is
his first video of the St. Paul Pioneers... called 'What We
Do."
Please watch it here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MafVnWMGDY&feature=plcp and watch for more of Ryne's work
throughout the remainder of our season.

Pioneers Outplay Spartans

Excitement, anticipation and passion ran as high as the
temperature Saturday afternoon at Seafoam Stadium as the Pioneers
battled the rival Minnesota Spartans.

This game started the same way the last one ended—with an interception
by the Pioneers defense. This one was negated by an offside penalty,
though.

There would be more mistakes by both teams but the Pioneers, like all
championship-caliber teams do, overcame theirs to take home the victory.

The next mistake came when the Spartans intercepted quarterback Michael
Spriggs, his first in five games this season. Spriggs was undeterred,
coming back and throwing a touchdown pass to tight end Joe Ubani on the
next Pioneers possession.(Read Full Article) (Photos)

Pioneers Beat Thunderhawks 58-0

“They’ve never had an offense like ours”,
quarterback Michael Spriggs said to the offense in a huddle after last
Thursday’s practice – he was talking about past Pioneers teams.

He’s right. Through the first four games of 2011, the Pioneers scored
111 points. The opposition scored only 19 points, impressive, to be
sure. But in 2012, the Pioneers offense and defense have taken their
accomplishments to another level. Through the first four games this
season, the team has scored 207 points, 96 more points than last season.

And how many have teams scored against the Pioneers? Zero. Zilch. Nada.
That’s right. No team has yet been able to score on the Pioneers this
season. Although the Menomonie Thunderhawks came close – being stuffed
on 4th down at the 1-yard line – the Pioneers defense made sure it
didn’t happen Saturday at Seafoam Stadium.

While the Pioneers are seemingly scoring at will, the defense is unlike
anything anyone has seen from the Pioneers, too. Saturday also marked
the 50th victory for head coach Mark Heiser in four short years coaching
the Pioneers.(Read Full Article)

Pioneers Offense, Defense Crush Giants

By Cassie Kickert
(5-24-2012)

Every season has its own set of challenges. No one expected the 2012
season to be any different. No one could have predicted the Pioneers’
previously deep set of running backs would be down to a couple during
Saturday’s NEFL game against the Rochester Giants, though.

As it turned out, there was no need to worry. Quarterback Michael
Spriggs and the Pioneers receivers made sure more than enough points
were scored to win the game. And the Pioneers defense – continuing its
early season dominance – did more than its part as well.

In a 37-0 victory, the Pioneers did make some mistakes but, like all great teams, had the talent to overcome them.

The challenges started early when Lionel Lamarre ran a punt back for a
touchdown only to have it called back on a Pioneers penalty.

Spriggs and the offense came right back and scored on a 55 yard touchdown pass from Spriggs to Marcus Foster.(Read Full Article)

Pioneers Crush the Spartans

To say that the Pioneers overpowered the Central Wisconsin
Spartans Saturday would be an understatement. The Pioneers imposed their
will on the Spartans all afternoon, especially in the running game.

Even though running back Brad Foss hurt his knee in the first quarter,
Andy Folz and Jamal McNutt did their best to make sure the offense
didn’t miss a beat.

In fact, the Pioneers first three touchdowns were by running backs. Foss
took the first one in from six yards out after quarterback Michael
Spriggs ran for 25 yards.

Foss was the workhorse on the next drive, starting from the Spartans’ 15
yard line, until he injured his knee. Then, running back DeMario Walton
took it in from the one yard line. On the next offensive possession,
Spriggs’ pass to Foss set up a touchdown run by Folz on fourth and one.

When asked about sticking with the run on that drive, Folz said, “We
decided to stick with it. We got our blocks and were able to get in.”(Read Full Article)

Pioneers Dominate Sting

It
is what happened in the first game at Concordia University’s Seafoam
Stadium – a decisive, all-encompassing victory for the hometown, 2-time
defending NEFL champion St. Paul Pioneers.

It began slowly, but
turned quickly. The Pioneers won the toss but elected to defer, trusting
Kahn Powell’s defense to stop the Sting.

Indeed, they did more
than that. The Pioneers staunch defense shut the Sting down. Although
the Sting would intercept Pioneers backup quarterback Bryan Trulen and
recover a fumble in the third quarter, they would be unable to
capitalize on it.

The Pioneers offense did more than its part as
well – scoring twice in the first quarter and five times in the first
half. Starting quarterback Michael Spriggs threw touchdowns to three
different receivers and also took one in himself. The first one came on
the second possession of the game to running back Isaac Odim.(Read Full Article)

Success Is No Accident

Written By: Cassie KickertMany people make the St. Paul Pioneers’ success possible – on and
off the field. This article will highlight three people who will be
valued contributors this season.

Lionel Lamarre is one new face Pioneers fans will see on the field this
season. Last season, he played in the All-American Bowl with the
Minnesota Spartans. Then, his friend, receiver Marcus Foster, told him
about the Pioneers.

Lamarre’s playing resume is exemplary. He has been an extraordinary player everywhere he’s been.

He was a star defensive back for the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs,
earning Honorable Mention All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
(NSIC) his junior and senior seasons. He had a team high three
interceptions and eight pass breakups in 2008, SMSU’s first winning
season since 1999.(Read Full Article)

Pioneers Makes Perfect

Written By: Cassie KickertAlthough the air outside was cold Thursday night, action
on the St. Paul Pioneers’ practice field was heating up. Players new and
old to the squad are getting ready for the season opener May 5.

Running back DeMario Walton is returning for a third year with the Pioneers.

His favorite thing about being a Pioneer is the “camaraderie and
togetherness of the team. [Being able to] be a part of the team coming
together as the season goes on.”

Those watching practice can see it happening already as players cheer on and encourage one another.

“Everybody’s on the same page. Everybody wants to win,” Walton said.(Read Full Article)

Pioneers Have Good First Practice

Written By: Cassie Kickert
The St. Paul Pioneers’ first regular practice was one of continued
learning and improvement. To begin practice, players received
instruction from the coaches and then broke off by position doing a
variety of drills. In addition, the offense and defense fought for the
ball while practicing many different plays.

Linebacker Derrick Jacobs is one player the offense will go up against
in practice. This is his first year playing for the Pioneers.

When asked why he joined St. Paul, he said, “I miss football.”

Jacobs, who played at Minnesota State University-Mankato, was a two-year
starter and lettered three years at Northfield High School in
Northfield, Minnesota. In addition, he was the school’s second leading
tackler and named Honorable Mention All-Missota Conference.

Another new Pioneers defensive player is defensive lineman Brandon
Murdock. Murdock played high school football at Richfield High School
here in the Twin Cities. He also played one year for the Ridgewater
Community College Warriors.

His goals are to “go as far as I can until I get injured or slow down.”

By contrast, Ron Toles is not new to the Pioneers. The running back was
on the Pioneer’s practice squad last year and is again this year. Toles
played high school football at California Independent High School. He
moved to Minnesota three-and-a-half years ago after getting married.

The Pioneers’ next practice is Thursday, April 5 at 7 pm at St. Paul Municipal Athletics.

Mini Camp Highlights

Written By: Cassie Kickert
With a rare March Minnesota sun beating down on MacMurray Field in St.
Paul, players took to the field Saturday and Sunday, learning Pioneers
plays and formations at the St. Paul Pioneers 2012 Minicamp.

Quarterback Michael Spriggs is one player hoping to make the Pioneers
again in 2012. Spriggs just moved back to the Twin Cities. He last
played for the Pioneers in 2009, helping the team on its road to the
NAFL National Championship.

“I love the organization,” Spriggs said.

When asked what his goal is this season, he didn’t hesitate: “To win another championship.”(Read The Full Article)

Team Mini Camp

The St. Paul Pioneers will hold their annual mini-camp on March 24 and
March 25 at McMurray Field in St. Paul. This is a FULL CONTACT event and
players need to wear full equipment to participate. This is your last
chance to try out for the Pioneers for 2012. If you have attended either
of the previous tryouts, or were on the roster at the end of the 2011
season, there is NO COST.

New players who have not yet tried out for the team in 2012 must pay $20.

The camp will be held both days from noon to 3 p.m. Returning players are STRONGLY encouraged to attend.

McMurray is located at 1101 W. Jessamine Avenue in St. Paul, at the southern end of Como Park just west of Lexington Parkway.

Another Successful Tryout

Excitement and anticipation ran high at the second St.
Paul Pioneers tryout on Sunday February 19th. During the 11-on-11
drills, applause rang throughout the arena as players cheered on
potential teammates.

Delane Woods was one newcomer hoping to make
the 2012 Pioneers. Woods has plenty of experience playing football,
however. He played high school football at Minneapolis Washburn High
School. He also played for two years at East Los Angeles College, a
junior college in California.

In 2008, he was second on the team
with 20 catches for 412 yards and six touchdowns. That year, he finished
with 603 all-purpose yards.

He transferred to North Dakota State
but suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament, however. Now, his knee
is fully healed and he hopes to put the hurt on Pioneers’ opponents. He
hopes that playing with the Pioneers, defending champions of the
Northern Elite Football League, will give him a chance to play football
at an even higher level.(Read The Full Article)

New Team Apparel Store

St. Paul Pioneers fans, family members, players and staff who want the
latest and best Pioneers gear have a new place to go for attire that
fits them to a “P” – the new Pioneers team store through GTM Sportswear.

Developed this year to give Pioneers followers and fanatics a greater
range of choices – from T-shirts and sweat shirts to equipment bags and
jackets – the new team store will allow fans to buy a wide variety of
team-themed items all year long.

“We are really happy with what GTM is able to do for us with this online
team store,” Head Coach and General Manager Mark Heiser said. “This
just gives us a much more professional way to make our fans happy.”To
access the new Pioneers team store through GTM, go to http://gtmteamstore.com/stpaulpioneers.

Player Tryouts February 19th

The St. Paul Pioneers members of the Northern Elite Football League and
the 2010 & 2011 League Champions will hold open tryouts for the 2012
season on Sunday February 19th from
2pm-4pm. Tryouts will take place at the Bethel University Sports and
Recreation Center (3900 Bethel Drive, Arden Hills, MN 55112).

Registration
will begin at 1:30pm. The cost of the tryout is $20 for new players and
can be paid at the door or online through the Pro Shop on the Pioneers
website http://www.pioneersfootball.org/proshop . There will be no charge for players that ended the season on the 2011 Pioneers roster.

Players should wear shorts, t-shirt, and gym type shoes and be ready to go through football related drills.

January 8th Tryout Success

The nearly 60 players came from all walks of life and all experience
levels – from on-the-verge pros to longtime dreamers. But any way you
look at it, the St. Paul Pioneers’ first tryout for the 2012 season –
held Jan. 8 at the Bethel University Sports and Recreation Center – was a
rousing and exciting success.

Near the top of the list for the Pioneers’ hopes for a third straight
Northern Elite Football League title was a running back who has been a
two-time NCAA Division II All-America and a Division II National
Champion – not to mention a San Diego Charger for a couple months last
summer. Issac Odim, a former star running back for the University of
Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs signed a Letter of Intent to play for the
Pioneers in 2012.

For the Pioneers, who have won six championships in their first 10
seasons, including the 2009 NAFL National Championship, the appearance
of Odim and all the other high quality football players provides high
hopes for this season as well.(Read the Full Article)

Wills Thanks Pioneers for Making Him Feel Welcome

It was a pretty easy decision to make.
Robert Wills, an All-NSIC defender for the Bemidji State Beavers, wanted
to keep playing football after graduating from college. And he wanted
to play for the Pioneers.

“A no-brainer for us,” said Jim Walsh, the Pioneers assistant head coach
and defensive assistant.But Wills, who had taken part in several
combines, wanted to try his hand at tight end. He had played defensive
end in college.

Again, a no-brainer, said offensive coordinator Rob Neumann. The Pioneers were willing to give it a shot.

In the end, Wills played both tight end and defensive end for the St.
Paul Pioneers in their 2011 championship season. And he played well
enough to get a look from the Green Bay Blizzard of the Indoor Football
League. The Blizzard recently signed Wills to a professional contract.(Continue Reading)

Versatile Pioneers Standout Gets Pro Contract

St. Paul Pioneers Tight End/Defensive End Robert Wills wanted to have
fun and keep playing football last summer – so he joined what is perhaps
the best amateur team in the Upper Midwest. It turned out to be a great
move – for the Pioneers and Wills. The Bemidji State University star
not only helped St. Paul to its second consecutive league title, but he
caught the eye of professional scouts.

Now, Wills joins the Green Bay Blizzard of the professional Indoor
Football League – thanks in large part to his ability to keep sharp
playing the game he loves with the Pioneers. Wills caught a key 2-point
conversion in the Pioneers’ 15-0 win over the Chippewa Valley Predators
in the Northern Elite Football League title game in August.(Continue Reading)

George Hall Returns As Director of Player Relations

There is no need for the St. Paul Pioneers to baste their turkey this Thanksgiving. The team just got a whole lot more Juicy.

George Hall, known as Juice to those who know him and love him, is
returning to the team he helped start on its way 10 years ago. Hall, who
has been everything from a player to sideline manager to team owner, is
joining the Pioneers’ Board of Directors as Director of Player
Relations.

Hall owned the team in from 2008 through 2010. In 2009, St. Paul embarked on a historic coast-to-coast
odyssey to win the 2009 NAFL National Championship in Miami Beach, Fla.
He took last season off to tend to the home fires and move ahead
professionally.

Now, he is back. And to Hall and the Pioneers, it is like he never really left.

“I am very happy, actually,” Hall said of his and the team’s decision to
rejoin each other. “It’s in my blood, this organization. It’s in my
soul. It’s a part of me. Being away for a week, a month, or more, it
eats at you a little bit.”(Continue Reading)

Brian Schulz Returns to the Annoucers' Booth

Brian Schulz, the voice of the St. Paul Pioneers, is returning to the
booth as the Pioneers’ PA announcer at all home games. Schulz will work
Pioneers games at their new home: Sea Foam Stadium at Concordia
University-St. Paul.

Schulz, a former coach and owner of the Pioneers, took a couple of years
off to focus on his kids and career. But he said he is jazzed about
returning to the team that has been such a big part of his life. The
Pioneers are the two-time defending champions of the Northern Elite
Football League.

Pioneers Move to Sea Foam Stadium

The two-time NEFL Champion St. Paul Pioneers will call a new stadium
home for the 2012 season: Sea Foam Stadium at Concordia University-St.
Paul.

Sea Foam, one of the best and newest football stadiums in
the St. Paul- Minneapolis Twin Cities area, opened two years ago. It
cost an estimated $14.5 million to build and is located in the heart of
St. Paul’s Midway neighborhood at Interstate Hwy. 94 and Hamline Avenue.

The
Pioneers will have full access to the stadium facilities, including
home and away locker rooms. Being on the campus of Concordia University
should feel like coming home to several current and former Pioneers
players, many of whom played for the Golden Bears during their college
careers.

“We would like to thank Concordia officials and staff
for their willingness to work with us to make this exciting opportunity
happen,” Pioneers Head Coach Mark Heiser said. “Moving to Concordia will
only help the Pioneers draw an even larger fan base.”

The move
to Sea Foam already is opening new doors for Pioneers sponsorships and
other partnerships with area businesses. New announcements regarding
those developments will be coming soon.(Continue Reading)

Powell Named New Defensive Coordinator

Maybe the ball-hawking, ball-stealing, points-scoring St. Paul Pioneers defense will now be known as the Wrath of Kahn.

Kahn
Powell, a much-respected and longtime Pioneers defensive assistant, has
been promoted to Defensive Coordinator, the Pioneers announced Sunday.
Powell, who had been the Pioneers defensive backs coach since 2008,
promises to stress taking the ball away from opposing offenses.

“This
is just a great opportunity to step up and coach a great group of
players,” Powell said about his decision to take the defensive reins for
St. Paul, the NEFL’s top defense over the past two seasons. “I’m happy I
can do it with the Pioneers.”

Pioneers Head Coach Mark Heiser,
who was the team’s defensive coordinator himself in 2006 and 2007, said
Powell will bring an excitement to the Pioneers’ defense. “And I am
excited about the dynamics he will bring. Kahn is going to help make a
great defense even better.”

Rob Neumann, the Pioneers’ Offensive Coordinator, was happy to hear the news that Powell had accepted the job.(Continue Reading)

VidSwap Sponsorship

The NEFL Champion St. Paul Pioneers are proud to announce a 2012 season
partnership with VidSwap.com, an online game video distribution and analysis
provider that allows the Pioneers to immediately post game film to the Internet
to be seen by coaches, players and professional scouts.

As a Pioneers’ sponsor, VidSwap.com gives Pioneers players and coaches a true
advantage – allowing the team immediate access to game film from any laptop or
PC. It means the Pioneers are able to game plan an opponent, evaluate their own
games and send game film to professional scouts at the click of a mouse.(Continue Reading)

2011 Season Wrap Up

The two-time NEFL Champion St. Paul Pioneers recently looked back on an
incredible 2011 season – while also looking ahead to building an even
better team in 2012.

First, some reflections on 2011, another championship year:
Wide
receiver Joseph Mapson was named the Pioneers’ Most Valuable Player.
The Concordia University- St. Paul standout played receiver, punt
returner and even quarterback at times for the cardinal and black.
Mapson proves his value every year, but he came through with perhaps the
season’s most sensational play with a leaping, twisting and falling
touchdown grab against the Chippewa Valley Predators in the 2011 Elite
Bowl to give the Pioneers a lead they would never relinquish in a 15-0
win. Mapson was also named co-player of the year for the NEFL.

Defensive
tackle Jeff McGaster, a Pioneers dominating force since joining the
team in 2008, was named Defensive Most Valuable Player. Jeff had 10
sacks, 60 tackles, an interception and a blocked field goal in seven
games. More importantly, he is a game-changer that forces the other team
to double-team him if they hope to do anything on offense. McGaster was
also awarded Defensive Player of the Year for the NEFL National
Conference.(Continue Reading)